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    lilgoldie
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    What's Inside:
    • Five Complete Shows
    • 5/11/77 St. Paul Civic Center Arena, St. Paul, MN
    • 5/12/77 Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL
    • 5/13/77 Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL
    • 5/15/77 St. Louis Arena, St. Louis MO
    • 5/17/77 University Of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
    •14 Discs, 111 tracks
    •Mastered in HDCD by Jeffrey Norman, Plangent Processes playback system for maximum sonic accuracy
    •Artwork by Grammy Award-winning graphic artist Masaki Koike
    •Period Photos by James R Anderson
    •Historical Essay by Steve Silberman
    •Individual show liner notes

    MAGICAL, MYTHICAL MAY 1977!

    If you're a Dead Head, chances are you've spent many an hour expounding upon the distinction of May 8, 1977, Cornell University, Barton Hall. Well, at the risk of preaching to the choir, we'd like to reintroduce you to a series of shows that matches said greatness from that same gloriously fertile season. While Barton Hall is well known, the astounding tour that surrounded it has occasionally flown under the radar due to the uneven quality of tapes in circulation. May 1977 is set to change all of that with a boxed set that zeroes in on this high-water mark in the Grateful Dead's long strange trip.

    For a band resurrecting itself after a 20-month hiatus, there was a great frenzy of expectancy that surrounded the Spring of 1977. We anticipate a grand reoccurrence of this fervor with the release of May 1977, a 14-disc boxed set featuring five complete shows from consecutive stops on that magical tour. Mastered in HDCD by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering, the "psychoacoustic phenomena" as Jerry once put it, of St. Paul Civic Center Arena, St. Paul, MN (5/11) Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL (5/12, 5/13), St. Louis Arena, St. Louis MO (5/15) and Coliseum at the University Of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL (5/17) can now finally be appreciated. Each of these shows finds the Dead delivering punchier, more focused sets, tightening up the framework; each night turning out first-ever renditions ("Passenger,""Iko Iko,""Jack-A-Roe"), unloading potent new pairings ("Scarlet Begonias">"Fire On The Mountain", "Estimated Prophet">"Eyes Of The World"), classic covers ("Dancing In The Street") and soon-to-be staples ("Estimated Prophet," "Samson and Delilah"), and ultimately rising up to paradise.

    And now for the nitty-gritty...

    Due June 11, May 1977 is limited to 15,000 individually numbered copies. Presented in a psychedelic box that boasts an intricate die-cut design created by Grammy®-winning graphic artist Masaki Koike, the set also includes a book filled with stories about each show, as well as an in-depth essay by Dead historian Steve Silberman, who delves deep into the history behind the tour and the band’s return from its extended hiatus.

    Once these 15,000 boxes are gone, May 1977 and its shows will never be available again on CD. However, the 111 tracks will be made available on release date as FLAC and Apple lossless full-set-only downloads for $99.98.

    Like its predecessors Europe '72: The Complete Recordings and Spring 1990, we expect May 1977 to sell out. Your best bet is to pre-order it now, then sit back, relax, and enjoy all the exclusive content we'll be rolling out over the next few weeks right here and on Facebook.com/GratefulDead and Youtube.com/gratefuldead.

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  • #241
    SPACEBROTHER
    Joined:
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    I haven't bought this set, but a friend of mine who did uploaded it onto one of my ipods. So far after over a week, I've listened to the first show and half of the second show. To me, what I've listened to so far, the first Chicago show is superior to the previous night in St Paul, which in my opinion is a throwaway show. Already being familiar with the whole '77 tour from years of tape trading, I already know that the first night in Chicago and the Alabama shows are the best included in this set. The other three shows, while kind of mediocre for this tour, are almost all skip songs for me. In my opinion, the best of May '77 have already been released (Dicks Picks #3 and #29) or circulate widely (5/8-9/77). I've been in a streak of some financial turmoil for a few months (hope it turns around soon) so purchasing my own copy of this set just wasn't in the cards for me. In my view, I'm not disappointed that I'm unable to shell out the money for this set. On the one hand, the completionist in me desires this to have it in my collection, on the other hand, I would never listen to it nearly as often as I do any pre-haitus or especially '80s era shows, so the variety craver in me wins out, as does my wallet. That being said, I did purchase the subscription for this year, as I have for every year that they have been offered, beginning with the final year of the Road Trips series which in my opinion had a far superior release formula of mixing up the program (with something from the '60s, '70's and '80s) than the Dave's Picks series. If either of the next two Dave's Picks for this year are also from the '70s, this current subscription will be my last for the foreseeable future, and I'll just get the ones I want ala carte. On a final note, I plan on hitting up one of my local best buy stores today to pick up a copy of the new Garcialive Vol 2 from 8/5/90 Greek Theatre. Now that's a show I already know that will get many repeat listening's for me, without a single skip song and within my budget. Finally, in hindsight and foresight, I'm kind of glad that this years box wasn't an '80s set or a Spring '90 vol 2. I would have one whatever I needed to do to make that happen to be in my collection, even if I had to sacrifice other necessities and/or sell stuff. Perhaps when I have some disposable income down the road, I'll seek out a secondhand hardcopy of this box set to satisfy the completionist side of me.
  • #242
    guit30
    Joined:
    77 Dead
    Hi Friends and DeadHeads, This music sounds great, I loved 77 a whole lot, between 72 and 77 ,it would be hard to say which year I actually liked best, My favorite release has been for the last few years, "To Terrapin", from May,77. It was released in 09. I still listen to it a lot. I love the 3rd disc that has Estimated Prophet , Terrapin Station, and PITB. This Terrapin doesn't sound right, It is off rhythm or something. Something is off, now it seems to be coming together.The one on "To Terrapin" is perfect. It is a hard song. I went to Englishtown in 9/77 another great show in 77 and also DP 10 on DEc 29 is a great show. Englishtown is DP 15, great recording. I see there are about 2500 left, last month there 3500 left. I am on disability and just can't afford this, I wish it would sell out. Best, Jim
  • #243
    guit30
    Joined:
    77 Dead
    Hi Friends and DeadHeads, This music sounds great, I loved 77 a whole lot, between 72 and 77 ,it would be hard to say which year I actually liked best, My favorite release has been for the last few years, "To Terrapin", from May,77. It was released in 09. I still listen to it a lot. I love the 3rd disc that has Estimated Prophet , Terrapin Station, and PITB. This Terrapin doesn't sound right, It is off rhythm or something. Something is off, now it seems to be coming together.The one on "To Terrapin" is perfect. It is a hard song. I went to Englishtown in 9/77 another great show in 77 and also DP 10 on DEc 29 is a great show. Englishtown is DP 15, great recording. I see there are about 2500 left, last month there 3500 left. I am on disability and just can't afford this, I wish it would sell out. Best, Jim
  • #244
    thismikebenz
    Joined:
    Brent and I will take you home
    I saw someone really appreciating that song earlier in this thread. I always thought (after Brent died) that it was a hollow promise. Those pictures of him singing to his daughter are heartbreaking. She must feel so cheated. He was deep down a self destructive path and made promises he couldn't keep.
  • #245
    thismikebenz
    Joined:
    Skips vs Bathroom songs
    THere are definitely songs I enjoyed live at grateful dead and now furthur shows which I don't appreciate as much on the recordings, even of the same shows. Sugar Magnolia has been consistently awful since 1971, or maybe 72. It should never have been a hard rocker. Bob was always at his worst when he tried to be a normal rock and roller. I understand the respect due to Chuck Berry, but gosh, I do press skip if I am familiar with the versions already. My wife and I see all the Broomfield, Ogden, and Red ROcks shows, and one night, we had both worked that day, and spent the evening arranging the kids, and found ourselves parked far away and hiking up to Red Rocks, we could tell we were missing the first song, and when we got to our seats, we were relieved to find out they were politely getting either One More Saturday Night out of the way, or maybe it was sugar mag, I forget. WHen Jerry was alive, I always tuned out my seat mates for the ballads. Stella Blue, all those slow ones some of you don't care for. Looks Like Rain as well would grab my attention too. I didn't appreciate Looks Like Rain until my friend Jeff started busking with it in Northampton Mass one summer, then put it on his own cassettes that he sold. He taught me to appreciate that song through his own interpretations of it. Anyway, some songs are skipworthy in the cd or mp3 player, others are pee-break songs live. Depends a little on my mood, or how invested in the performance the band is.
  • #246
    Star Dark
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    Joined:
    Weir & Parish on May '77
    Segan - Just saw the video. Mr. Weir looked and sounded spectacular - quite sharp and animated. The "time off" (assuming this was taped recently) was apparently well worth it!
  • #247
    Brian2005l
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    Joined:
    Thanks again dead.net folks
    I just hit the 5/13 Other One, and I felt the need to post. As others have said, I think this sounds amazing. I find myself closing my eyes when I listen so that I can "see" where the sound is coming from. Just mind blowing. It may be the best sounding release since the Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack. Also, this is the first time I've really been psyched about the packaging. Beautiful stuff. You've really upped your game again this year on all fronts. One thing that would be nice for the next time you offer downloads (beyond the tag issue that people have already flagged), could you indicate whether the HDCD info is in the FLAC file? I think it's possible to have an HDCD flac (or Apple lossless), but it's also possible to create one without the HDCD info in it.
  • #248
    reijo29
    Joined:
    Box Issue
    Just received and noticed the box top & bottom are not so straight and flat. So it kind of slants as you set it on the shelf. Anyone else have this issue? (For all that money would be nice if it was closer to perfect)
  • #249
    segan63
    Joined:
    Star Dark
    Yes, 4/24/78 would certainly be welcome. I just saw that Rhino posted a new video on Youtube. It is a clip from the recent Weir Here Over There where Weir and Steve Parish reminisce about the Spring '77 Tour. This lends credence to the idea that they will hold off announcing Dave's Picks 7 until they can sell some more May '77 box sets...
  • #250
    Star Dark
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    Katy111 & Segan
    Re 4/24/78 as a candidate for DP7: In the interest of full disclosure, wishful thinking (and a somewhat educated guess) factored into the Guinness calculation! I do know that this show was canned for release several years back, but never quite made it. Can't imagine why - it's a barnburner for sure. Would've been earth-shaking if they'd punched out a better Werewolves...
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Submitted by lilgoldie on
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Dead Store Products

What's Inside:
• Five Complete Shows
• 5/11/77 St. Paul Civic Center Arena, St. Paul, MN
• 5/12/77 Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL
• 5/13/77 Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL
• 5/15/77 St. Louis Arena, St. Louis MO
• 5/17/77 University Of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
•14 Discs, 111 tracks
•Mastered in HDCD by Jeffrey Norman, Plangent Processes playback system for maximum sonic accuracy
•Artwork by Grammy Award-winning graphic artist Masaki Koike
•Period Photos by James R Anderson
•Historical Essay by Steve Silberman
•Individual show liner notes

MAGICAL, MYTHICAL MAY 1977!

If you're a Dead Head, chances are you've spent many an hour expounding upon the distinction of May 8, 1977, Cornell University, Barton Hall. Well, at the risk of preaching to the choir, we'd like to reintroduce you to a series of shows that matches said greatness from that same gloriously fertile season. While Barton Hall is well known, the astounding tour that surrounded it has occasionally flown under the radar due to the uneven quality of tapes in circulation. May 1977 is set to change all of that with a boxed set that zeroes in on this high-water mark in the Grateful Dead's long strange trip.

For a band resurrecting itself after a 20-month hiatus, there was a great frenzy of expectancy that surrounded the Spring of 1977. We anticipate a grand reoccurrence of this fervor with the release of May 1977, a 14-disc boxed set featuring five complete shows from consecutive stops on that magical tour. Mastered in HDCD by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering, the "psychoacoustic phenomena" as Jerry once put it, of St. Paul Civic Center Arena, St. Paul, MN (5/11) Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL (5/12, 5/13), St. Louis Arena, St. Louis MO (5/15) and Coliseum at the University Of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL (5/17) can now finally be appreciated. Each of these shows finds the Dead delivering punchier, more focused sets, tightening up the framework; each night turning out first-ever renditions ("Passenger,""Iko Iko,""Jack-A-Roe"), unloading potent new pairings ("Scarlet Begonias">"Fire On The Mountain", "Estimated Prophet">"Eyes Of The World"), classic covers ("Dancing In The Street") and soon-to-be staples ("Estimated Prophet," "Samson and Delilah"), and ultimately rising up to paradise.

And now for the nitty-gritty...

Due June 11, May 1977 is limited to 15,000 individually numbered copies. Presented in a psychedelic box that boasts an intricate die-cut design created by Grammy®-winning graphic artist Masaki Koike, the set also includes a book filled with stories about each show, as well as an in-depth essay by Dead historian Steve Silberman, who delves deep into the history behind the tour and the band’s return from its extended hiatus.

Once these 15,000 boxes are gone, May 1977 and its shows will never be available again on CD. However, the 111 tracks will be made available on release date as FLAC and Apple lossless full-set-only downloads for $99.98.

Like its predecessors Europe '72: The Complete Recordings and Spring 1990, we expect May 1977 to sell out. Your best bet is to pre-order it now, then sit back, relax, and enjoy all the exclusive content we'll be rolling out over the next few weeks right here and on Facebook.com/GratefulDead and Youtube.com/gratefuldead.

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Submitted by Lumadaylight on Wed, 01/22/2014 - 14:43

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I am still enjoying this box. Have gone through the entire run multiple times. After hearing a lot of 77 it's nice to go to the later years...but coming back again for another listen and it's just amazing how you find even more to love within this set. Now if I could only get my hands on spring 90 and Europe 72!
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10 years 6 months

Submitted by Mr. August West on Thu, 01/23/2014 - 04:45

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Holy smokes I'm like a kid on Christmas morning checking the mail everyday after work! Can't wait to jam this.
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16 years 5 months

Submitted by Underthevolcano on Thu, 01/23/2014 - 07:52

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I have been cranking this box on my car system while commuting and can't get enough of it. I reminds me of the old days when I wore out that Skull and Roses live lp set with constant listening. There is something about 1977. Also 1969, 1970, 1976, 1972, 1973, 1980, 1990 oh and 1988, 1989-ah well I could go on.
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11 years 1 month

Submitted by Lumadaylight on Sat, 01/25/2014 - 14:17

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This is some incredible music. Took a break for a while after first getting it but it is so so good to come back to. St. Paul and Tuscaloosa are my favorite two but there is something wonderful in each show. Best sound quality for sure goes to the 11th. We have had some great releases lately. Am so grateful to have this on my bookshelf. Thanks again and again. To anyone not sure if they want this because there is already a lot of 77 released, just get it. The box is beautiful. Love the fact that I can have this physical media on my shelf. The sound quality is sure worth it. Windows media player decodes HDCD btw...really makes these discs shine.
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15 years 2 months

Submitted by guit30 on Tue, 02/04/2014 - 04:55

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This box is something special , I listened to May 11, and it blew me away again. Just great stuff
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11 years 1 month

Submitted by dtobin7283 on Thu, 02/13/2014 - 16:57

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LIke many others, I have so much '77 stuff I was not excited when this came out. Thanks to a night of heavy drinking, I pulled out the credit card and dove in when judgement was impaired. I am so glad I did, I just keep coming back to this. Maybe it is the beautiful sound, or great performances, I don't know. I love almost all the releases, but this one just seems extra nice.
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15 years 3 months

Submitted by kevjones on Tue, 02/18/2014 - 08:03

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I am excited to see that this box set is on the UPS truck waiting to be delivered to my home sometime today! Decided to take the plunge and finally order this set. Looking forward to some heady jams this week.
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16 years 5 months

Submitted by Underthevolcano on Wed, 02/19/2014 - 10:16

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looks like the physical set will sell out shortly. I got mine a long time ago and still have it in regular rotation. I'm a little surprised this took so long to sell out given the quality of the performance and beauty of the physical product. What is next on the release agenda?
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Submitted by kevjones on Thu, 02/20/2014 - 13:44

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Finally got my set yesterday. I listened to the first set of the St. Paul show, and I'm glad I decided to get it. The St. Paul show has such a unique and warm sound to it. I really like the feel. The boys blister through a number of the songs, and they are all really unique. Looking forward to enjoying the second set tonight.
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Submitted by kevjones on Sun, 02/23/2014 - 00:57

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SO GLAD I purchased this set. It gives me a whole new appreciation and understanding for 1977. As a 20+ year 'Dead Freak' I have never fully understood the power of 1977, until I heard a string of shows consecutively, in their rightful context. We all know 1977 is majestic, but I think I have come to take it for granted. As a tape trader, I would come across a random 1977 here and there...5/8/77, 11/4/77, 6/9/77, 11/6/77/ 2/26/77, 12/29/77, and embrace each and every one with exuberance, but casually move on to another era or decade. Over the past few nights, I have been delving into this box set and have a whole new appreciation for the music of the Grateful Dead. I have listened to the first 3.5 shows in their entirety and am blown away. I cannot wait for Tuscaloosa tomorrow!!! To hear the ebb and flow of each show in its proper context is unspeakable. The transformation of the music from night to night is uncanny. The 2nd night in Chicago is the only 'clunker' of the bunch, but with that being said, there are some serious moments of serendipity and majesty in that show. I cannot wait to piggy back on this box set and listen to the Fox and Lakeland shows and the Sportatorium show, followed by 'To Terrapin' after I have completed the adventure of this box set. On a side note, the 'Terrapin' from the first night in Chicago is one of the most beautiful versions I have ever heard. Bobby hits those notes just like it begins on the album, and he keeps going with the lick. It is rare to hear a version of "Terrapin' were Bobby keeps hitting that lick (put it on, you'll know what I am talking about). It's so bright and beautiful. Thanks Dave!!!
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Submitted by kevjones on Sun, 02/23/2014 - 01:04

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Oh, and that Dancin' from STL is so groovy. It rivals the legendary one from Dick's Picks 25 and Winterland '78 (From Egypt with Love). My jaw dropped...
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Submitted by wilfredtjones on Sun, 02/23/2014 - 04:03

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Like you kevjones, I'm a sucker for '77 and '78 Dancin' in the Streets. Not sure the one from 10-20 Winterland graced RT 1.4 though. It's just not there. Oh well. Have fun on your May '77 excursion! DP 29 is going to be nice, real nice...
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13 years 8 months

Submitted by nitecat on Tue, 08/19/2014 - 16:52

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Believe it or not, I missed this box and just picked it up on Ebay. Wow I'm sure glad I did. I'm still working through St. Louis, looking forward to the Dancing, and the Terrapin mentioned below. The sound is pretty damn good for 1/4 inch, thanks to the amazing Betty! I hope she gets her share of this pie. She deserves it.
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8 years 11 months

Submitted by Chris killer on Thu, 12/17/2015 - 17:04

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Happy as hell, but wondering is there a CD version of Cornell Barton hall 1977 officially released,just wondering, if is a get able or is it just something best left as the unicorn out on tape ? I still have two tape decks . Thanks anyone
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Submitted by wilfredtjones on Thu, 12/17/2015 - 17:12

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Chris killer, it's not in the vault therefore not fully released. One song from Cornell is available, Dancin' in the Streets, on the So Many Roads box set. The 5 cd 'So Many Roads' box set is still available for sale on this website last I checked. I hope this helps.
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Submitted by the420bandito on Wed, 12/23/2015 - 04:47

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that single track from Barton Hall is actually on the 12cd set Beyond Description (1973-1989). I believe they have only one set from the show in the vault. Either way the existing copies on the internet are near perfect...at least the one I found. On ebay I saw 2LP set of the show from an Italian record company. Who knows what that sounds like
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Submitted by fancas on Wed, 05/11/2016 - 01:47

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Submitted by Sawwwn on Thu, 01/26/2017 - 10:11

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Been hoping to buy a digital download for months. Is this option returning soon?
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Submitted by NY Mike on Sun, 05/07/2017 - 11:32

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Is anyone else having issues downloading this from Warner Music? I have tried numerous times after purchasing the FLAC files and each time the download fails. So far the most I have been able to get is all but the last two songs from the first show, plus it takes FOREVER even on a (supposedly) fast cable connection. Can these shows be delivered in separate downloads?
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Submitted by cminton on Wed, 06/14/2017 - 02:24

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The comments suggest that I can pre-order it and that it would be available on June 11th. How do I pre-order (or order now that it is June 14th) this boxed set?
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Submitted by lilmaria1212 on Sat, 08/05/2017 - 11:00

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Solid offer for the music community, although it's a bit pricey?! JUST A BIT! Lol, I'm already spending a bunch of money on music promotion services.
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